Aeroplane.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J. KRAFT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AEROPLANE.

Application filed April 15, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. KRAFT, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an aeroplane of simple and eflicient construction which will have inherent stability and which will fall on an even keel, or a keel substantially parallel with the earths surface in the event that power is cut off during flight.

Further advantages of my invention reside in the shape of the plane and in the means for guiding the same.

Referring now more particularly to the invention the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved aeroplane; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the frame of the plane consists of a longitudinal keel or base member 4 having a transverse fabric-supporting member 5 secured thereto near the forward end of the base member and the ends 6 of which are upwardly curved, being held in such position by means of a suitable tie wire 7, supported by the post 8 and capable of being tensioned by means of a turn-buckle 9. Preferably at the extreme forward end of the base 4: I secure a fabric support 10 which projects above the base. At the rear of the base another transverse fabric-supporting member 11 is secured which is curved downwardly or in an opposite direction from the curve of the member 5 and which is of considerably less length than the member 5. The covering 12 may be of any desired fabric or material used for such purpose, and is secured to the support 10 and then drawn downwardly under the transverse support 5, .thereby forming an elevating surface 13, the entering edges of the plane being formed by the forward edges of the fabric 14 when drawn between the support 10 and the two ends 15 of the forward transverse supporting member 5. The covering is then drawn rearwardly under the frame to the supporting member 11 and is so cut that straight lines will be formed Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1912.

Serial No. 691,056.

between the ends 15 of the member 5 and the ends 16 of the member 11. It will be thus noted that the upper surface of the plane is dished as clearly shown in Fig. 3 except at the rear portion where for a short distance the plane is downwardly inclined, due to the fact that the covering is secured to the base 4 at the point 17 and projects downwardly therefrom for a short distance to the ends of the transverse member 11, thus forming a plane the major portion of which is concave. Thus it will be seen that as the plane is driven forward the lifting thereof will be effected by reason of the angle surface 13 and the angle surface between the point 17 and the ends of the member 11. A suitable tie-wire 18 holds the member 11 in curved position and to which the rear end of the covering is secured. By reason of this dished plane surface when the weight is properly distributed in the geometrical center of the plane, the plane will fall slowly and at an angle substantially parallel to the earths surface and not at an abrupt angle.

The supporting platform 18 for the operator is secured to the base 4 in any suitable manner and carries the power plant 19, which through suitable gearing drives the shaft 20 to which the propeller 21 is secured, the shaft 20 being supported by the bearing 22.

As a means for guiding the plane, both l'iorizontally and vertically, I have devised a simple and efficient apparatus consisting of two spreaders 23 and 24 which are se cured together at their centers and at substantially right angles to each other and rigidly secured to the member 4. A rod or other suitable form of support 25 is connected to the end of the member 4 by means of a universal joint 26 and to the hub 27 by a universal joint 28. The hub 27 has secured thereto two fabric-supporting members 29 which are normally in a horizontal position and parallel to each other with a suitable fabric 3O stretched therebetween. Two fabricsupporting members 31 cross the members 29 at right angles and are secured to the hub with a suitable fabric 32 therebetwecn, thus providing two planes at right angles to each other, one of which is in a normally horizontal position and the other in a vertical position. Controlling wires 33 are secured to one of the frame members 29 upon opposite sides of the universal joint 28 and lead over the ends of the spreader 23, being held thereto in any suitable manner, and are connected at their other ends to a bar 34 pivoted to the base 4. Controlling wires 35 lead-from the ends of the bar 34 to the bar 36, which is pivoted to the car 18 and in convenient proximity to the operator. Itwill be readily seen that by moving the bar 36 upon its pivot the bar 3 1 will be similarly moved, thus turning the plane 32 at an angle to effect the steering to right or left. Controlling wires 37 similar to the controlling wires 33 are secured to the vertical supporting members 31 upon opposite sides of the universal coupling 28 leading over the ends of the spreader 24 with which they have a sliding engagement to the ends of the bar 38 which is pivoted to the base 4. Controlling wires 39 lead from the bar 38 to the bar 40 pivoted to the base 4 and which is rocked on its pivot by the controlling wheel 41 connected to the bar 40 in any suitable manner. It will therefore be seen that by rocking the bar 40 upon its pivot the elevating plane 30 Will be moved into different angles to obtain either an upward or a downward direction.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. An aeroplane comprising a frame having a longitudinal base member, a forward transverse fabric -supporting member secured to said base member near one end and having upwardly curved ends, a support secured forwardly of said transverse member and projecting above said base member, a rear transverse fabric-supporting member secured to said base member and of less length than said forward transverse member, a covering secured to said frame members from said support to said rear transverse member and means for propelling and guiding said aeroplane.

2. An aeroplane comprising a frame having a longitudinal base member, a forward transverse fabric-supporting member secured to said base near one end and having upwardly curved ends, a fabric support arranged forward of said transverse member and centrally thereof, a covering for said frame secured to said fabric support at a point on the plane between the plane of the base and the ends of said transverse member and extending rearwardly in direct lines to the ends of said transverse member and thence rearwardly in direct lines between tbe last points to the end of said base, a rear transverse member to which the rear end of said covering is secured and means for propelling and guiding said aero plane.

3. An aeroplane coi'nprising a frame hav ing a longitudinal base member, a forward transverse fabric-supporting member socured to said base member near one end and having upwardly curved ends, a support se cured forwardly of said transverse member and projecting above said base member, a rear transverse fabriosupporting member secured to said base member and of less length than said forward transverse member, a covering secured to said frame members from said support to said rear transverse member, means for propelling said aeroplane and means for guiding the same comprising two guiding plane surfaces secured to each other at right angles, a space bar, universal joint connections at the ends of said bar connecting said guiding planes to said base and means for moving said guiding planes in four directions.

HENRY J. KRAFT.

\Vitnesses SADIE M. RYAN, JAMES R. OFFIELD.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

